Abstract

Samples of meiofauna were collected with a Multicorer during the Magellan `Victor Hensen´ Campaign of RV `Victor Hensen´ in 1994 at 62 stations along the Magellan Straits and the Beagle Channel. Seventeen samples were analysed in the framework of a larger project. Only 69 species of Harpacticoida are known from Chile so far, all of them inhabiting the littoral zone. The Magellan Campaign of RV `Victor Hensen´ provided the first opportunity to obtain sublittoral samples of meiobenthos of Chilean coasts. In these samples the Copepoda were represented by 4 of its orders: Calanoida, Cyclopoida, Poecilostomatoida and Harpacticoida, the latter exhibiting the highest abundances. Representatives of 19 harpacticoid families (6 of which are new for Chilean waters) were identified in the samples. The species found in 15 of these families belong to 28 genera of which 18 are new to the Chilean fauna. With respect to taxa composition and distribution, the following preliminary results can be presented: the number of new families and new genera for the southern tip of South America increased considerably; a relatively high similarity between the Magellan Straits/Beagle Channel and areas of corresponding northern latitudes can be observed; the Magellan Straits and Beagle Channel show considerable differences with respect to taxa composition and diversity of the harpacticoid fauna.